A NEW GENUS AND TWO NEW SPECIES OF ARBOREAL OPPIIDAE (Acari : Cryptostigmata) FROM NEW ZEALAND

A new genus is erected on the basis of 2 new species of Oppiidae, Tuparezetes christineae and Tuparezetes philodendrus. These mites were collected from the foliage of 2 different indigenous plant species in New Zealand. Both species appear to be well adapted for an arboreal existence in that they possess a deep wax layer on the notogaster and prodorsum. Some trophic and humidity relationships are considered briefly. The specimens on which this work is based were collected from the foliage of living plants. Both species appear to be well adapted for an arboreal existence and are here described as new. Superfamily OPPIOIDEA Balogh, 1961 Family OPPIIDAE Grandjean, 1954 The relationships of the new species described below appear to place them closest to the family Oppiidae Grandjean, 1954. However, they are not members of the Oppiidae sensu stricto as they possess tridactylous instead of monodactylous tarsi and 6 genital setae instead of the maximum of 5 given by Grandjean (1954). The notogastral chaetotaxy of the new species is similar to that of the Oppiidae except that the setae te, ti, ms, r2 and r3 are, within this family, never developed to the same extent as in the species described below. The prodorsum of the new species is unique in its possession of large paired prodorsal spines and well developed setae / and il. It is considered that the peculiarity of these species may warrant the erection of a new familial category when related species have been studied. Genus Tuparezetes Spain, new genus Cryptostigmata with long tactile solenidion O O on a prominent projection. Tarsal claws with median thickest. Prodorsum with weakly developed ridges and a large pair of posteriorly directed spines inserted laterad of bases of setae /. Sensilli spheroidal, on a narrow stalk. Bothridia prominent. Setae / and // long, barbed all around. Exobothridial setae minute or absent. Notogaster and posterior part of prodorsum covered with a deep, white, wax layer. Notogastral setae te, ti, ms, r3 and r2 long, thick, barbed all around. Three notogastral fissures (im, ips and ik) present. Venter normal, with weakly developed coxisternal ridges, coxisternal setal formula 156 Pacific Insects Vol. l l , no. 1 Fig. 1. Tuparezetes christineae n. sp.: a, dorsum; b, venter. (3-2-0-2). Setae of genito-anal region and coxisternal rows a and b fine, smooth, tapering. Six pairs of genital setae. Setae Adi and Ad2 inserted posterior to anal aperture. Pedotecta I and II toothed. Type species: Tuparezetes christineae n. sp. The genus is named for the "host" plant of the type-species (Olearia colensoi Hook, f.) whose maori name is tupare. Tuparezetes christineae Spain, new species Prodorsum: Rostrum rounded, setae ro smooth to finely barbed at tips, inserted on slight prominences in a dorsolateral position; nearly 2X as long as mutual distance of their bases, curving broadly forward of rostrum by approximately 1/3 their length. Prodorsal ridges present; indistinct and interrupted in parts, visible lateral to bases of setae il. Anteriorly interrupted for a short distance and reappearing as mesially curving ridges extending to bases of small, forward projecting cusps, these latter partially joined by a weak, medianly interrupted ridge. A large pair of sharp, posteriorly directed spines on prodorsum (fig. Ia, 2a). In dorsal view, bases of spines inserted laterad of bases of setae /. Points of spines directed posteriorly over mesially curving portions of prodorsal ridges, from which they are quite separate. Posterior portions of bases of spines forming small, mesially directed projections. Tutorium apparently absent. Setae / thick, long, heavily barbed all around (fig. 2c); in1969 Spain: New Zealand arboreal Oppiidae (Acari) 157 serted lateral to mid-dorsal line opposite approximate middle of pedotectum I. Setae il similar to /; inserted between bothridia. Posterior portion of lamellar region bordered by a mesially interrupted ridge which may be incurving extensions of posterior parts of prodorsal ridges. Bothridia prominent, directed obliquely forward (fig. 2b). Sensilli large, spherical with a narrow stalk (fig. 2b). Exoboth ridial setae absent or minute. Pedotecta I and II well developed. Notogaster: Oval in shape, convex, somewhat truncate anteriorly. In life this and prodorsum are covered with a deep, white to whitish-gray wax which may extend as high as half way up the major notogastral setae ti and ms. Nine pairs of notogastral setae. Setae ta finely barbed, situated on front corners of notogaster; directed obliquely forward at approximately 45° to mid-dorsal axis of body. Setae te, ti, ms, r3 and r^ similar in structure to // and /, directed vertically upwards; inserted as shown in fig. Ia (only bases of these setae are shown to avoid obscuring the figure). Setae r1 barbed, smaller than r% and r3; curving horizontally mesad. Setae Pi and P% smaller but similar in structure and curvature to ri. Three pairs of notogastral fissures noted, (im, ips and ifi) positioned as shown in figures Ia and Ib. A row of irregularly-shaped, more lightly pigmented areas extends around notogaster immediately above level of setae ru Pi and P2. Infracapitulum : Diarthral, labio/genal articulation complete. Setae h, m and a broadly curved, tapering, finely barbed. Pedipalps 5-segmented, chaetotaxy as in fig. 3a; setal formula (0-2-1-3-9). Ventral region of podosoma: Coxisternal ridges not well developed. Ridges I, II and sejugal present; III and IV absent. A weakly chitinized sternal ridge present joining ridges I, II and sejugal. Coxisternal setae fine, smooth, similar in length to genital setae. Coxisternal setal formula (3-2-0-2). Apodemata I and II moderate in length; III, IV and sejugal short and heavily chitinized (fig. Ib). Genito-anal region: (fig. Ib). Anal aperture widest smooth setae (fig. 2f). Adanal setae similar in structure to anals; Adi located immediately behind anal aperture and just lateral to mid-ventral line, Ad% located lateral to Adu Ad3 lateral to and inserted approximately half-way along anal aperture. Anal fissure (iad) runs parallel to edge of anal aperture, lateral to its anterior 1/2. One pair of aggenital setae inserted posterolaterad of genital aperture. Genital aperture narrowest posteriorly. Genital plates bear 6, small, smooth setae arranged as in fig. 2e; the positions of the most anterior appear to be slightly variable. Legs: Long; order of increasing size is II, I, III, IV. All tarsi tridactylous; claws finely barbed dorsally under high (1750X) magnification, the median somewhat longer and 2x as thick as laterals (fig. 2d). The chaetotaxy of the 1st genu, tibia and tarsus shown in fig. 3b. Long tactile solenidion (vO inserted on a conspicuous projection. The " touffe du premier tarse" of Fig. 2. Tuparezetes christineae n. sp. (Scale lines 10A): a, prodorsal spineright lateral aspect; b, bothridium and sensillus—right lateral aspect; c, seta / ; d, tarsal claws—leg I dorsal aspect; e, left genital plate; f, left anal plate; g, chelicera. posteriorly. Anal plates bear 2 small, 158 Pacific Insects Vol. l l , no. 1 Fig. 3. Tuparezetes christineae n. sp. (Scale lines IO/*), a, palp; b, leg I. Grandjean (1935) is raised on a small prominence and contains the famulus, 2 solenidia and seta tf. Chaetotaxy of other legs not studied. Size: Mean body length of 20 specimens from all localities was 407 u, range 371 /* to 451 M. The mean body width of these specimens, at the widest part of the notogaster, was 214 M, range 190 n to 232 M. The holotype is 425 u long, 220 M wide and 210 u deep. The lengths, in microns, of the legs of 12 specimens from all localities are as follows: Leg I mean 362, range 315 to 405 Leg II // 332, // 303 to 357 Leg III // 374, // 339 to 423 Leg IV // 459, // 435 to 514 The lengths, in microns, of the major dorsal setae of 12 specimens from all localities are as follows: seta mean range seta mean range ro 103 92-116 / 132 122-146 il 132 122-158 te 121 103-146 ti 132 92-158 ms 122 97-140 Holotype £ , Mt Wharite, 29.X.1966, taken from foliage of Olearia colensoi Hook. f. at 1025 m, A. V. Spain. Paratypes : All collected from foliage of Olearia colensoi. Ruahine Ranges : 5, Hinerua Ridge, 13.VIII.1967, P. Lewis; 8, Waipawa Saddle, 28.XII.1966, A. V. Spain; 2, Mt Wharite, 28.VII.1966, 23 sp., 29.X.1966, Spain. Tararua Ranges: 2, Arete Stream Basin, 23.11.1965, Spain. South I . : 4, Magister Ridge, 25.IX.1966, Spain; 14, Mt Fox, 6.XI.1966, P. Wardle; 1, Strachan Range, 31.VIII.1965, Spain; 2, Pillan's Pass, 3.1.1967, Spain. Stewart I . : 13, Thomson Ridge, 23.11.1967, J. C. McIlroy. The holotype and all paratypes with the exception of those collected from Mt Wharite on 28.VIII.1966 are lodged in the collection of the Entomology Division, D. S. I. R., Nelson, New Zealand. The paratypes collected from Mt Wharite on 28.VIII.1966 are lodged in the collection of the Bernice P. Bishop 1969 Spain: New Zealand arboreal Oppiidae (Acari) 159